Brazil’s National Institute for Ocean Research (INPO) has won a grant from Finep, worth approximately R$15 million (USD$2.76 million), for the creation of the Thematic Center for Renewable Energy in the Ocean – Blue Energy.
Throughout the project, four pieces of equipment corresponding to the studied technologies will be developed: a wave energy converter, an OTEC system based on the Rankine cycle with ammonia for ocean thermal gradient conversion, a hydrogen production module from offshore renewable energy, and a tidal current turbine. These pieces of equipment will be designed, built, and tested in laboratory and operational environments, allowing for the validation of performance, efficiency, and reliability for the construction of pilot projects.
“The availability of renewable resources in the ocean and Brazilian experience in offshore activities are important differentiators,” said INPO’s Director-General, Segen Estefen. “We can transform the ocean into a strategic ally in the energy transition, producing electricity, hydrogen, and desalinated water sustainably.”
Of the total project value, R$4.3 million will be allocated to research grants for master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral students, in collaboration with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), and the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV), strengthening the training of specialists and the production of knowledge in the country.
One of the technologies physically simulates green hydrogen production by emulating offshore wind energy, using desalinated seawater for electrolysis. This addresses one of the main challenges of wind power: the intermittency of generation, hindering energy planning and reducing the utilization of available energy. By allowing conversion into hydrogen, the energy produced at sea can be stored, reducing dependence on the variability of wind conditions and becoming more stable and competitive on a large scale.
Tidal energy turbines can operate in both ocean currents and continuously flowing rivers. Installed underwater, these systems convert water flow directly into electricity. Even on a smaller scale, they can serve remote regions, such as communities on the Amazon coast, where access to the electrical grid is limited and many locations depend on diesel generators.
Even small turbines can achieve high installed capacity. This allows for bringing clean and continuous energy to isolated communities, solving a historical problem of access to electricity,” Estefen said.
